Business sector

From From the Island to the City: Dominican Communities in New York City

Dominicans In The Business Sector

Because of the distressed economic and political conditions in the Dominican Republic, many people are unable to obtain sufficient education to become professionals. Therefore, a large number of Dominican immigrants to the United States seek blue-collar jobs^[1]. According to Milagros Ricourt, additionally many Dominicans have become self employed and have started their own businesses to support their community. “During the 1980s, Dominicans owned more than 20,000 businesses in New York City, particularly grocery stores (bodegas), taxi cab companies, sweatshops, travel agencies, and restaurants”^[2].

Below is a video of a Dominican Bodega and the different items found in the store.

This map shows some of the Dominican Restaurants situated around New York City.

Supermarket Excursion

This C Town has flags from all of the world placed on top of it. The Dominican flag is placed on top right next to the United States flag.

This map illustrates the correlation between the Dominican population in each neighborhood with the number of C-Town Group and Associated Supermarket locations. Source: Google Maps and the "Population of Dominicans in NYC" page.

When the Dominican population began growing, many families began setting up small groceries, or bodegas. As the bodega business became more and more profitable, these family businesses soon evolved into supermarket chains. "C-town appears to be the largest New York chain in which Dominicans figure so prominently. It has more than $1 billion in annual sales, according to the Modern Grocer trade publication. Other chains, including Associated and Met Food, also have dozens, perhaps hundreds, of Dominican owners”^[3]. Dominicans have now turned to the supermarket chains of New York City, especially in the predominantly Dominican neighborhoods of Washington Heights, the Upper West Side, Corona, and Soundview.

References

1. ↑ Hernández, Ramona and Francisco L. Rivera-Batiz. “Dominicans in the United States: A Socioeconomic Profile, 2000.” The CUNY Dominican Studies Institute. City University of New York. 16 Mar.2010. Dominican Studies Institute
2. ↑ Ricourt, Milagros. Dominicans in New York City: Power from the Margins. New York:Routledge, 2002. Print.
3. ↑ Myerson, Allen R. "Thriving Where Others Won't Go." New York Times 7 Jan. 1992, Business sec. Print.

Hernández, Ramona and Francisco L. Rivera-Batiz. “Dominicans in the United States: A Socioeconomic Profile, 2000.” The CUNY Dominican Studies Institute. City University of New York. 16 Mar.2010. Dominican Studies Institute

Ricourt, Milagros. Dominicans in New York City: Power from the Margins. New York:Routledge, 2002. Print.